Shadow Over Second Read online

  To Stephanie True Peters

  Copyright

  Text copyright © 1996 by Matthew F. Christopher

  Illustrations copyright © 1996 by Anna Dewdney

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL MEANS, INCLUDING INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS, WITHOUT PERMISSION IN WRITING FROM THE PUBLISHER, EXCEPT BY A REVIEWER WHO MAY QUOTE BRIEF PASSAGES IN A REVIEW.

  Hachette Book Group

  237 Park Avenue

  New York, NY 10017

  Visit our website at www.HachetteBookGroup.com

  First eBook Edition: December 2009

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  ISBN: 978-0-316-09484-9

  Contents

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  The action-packed Peach Street Mudders series by Matt Christopher:

  1

  “STEEE-RIKE!” boomed the ump as Bucky Neal breezed in a pitch past T.V. Adams.

  “C’mon, T.V.,” Nicky Chong muttered. He was on deck. There were two outs, and it was the top of the third inning. “Save me a rap.”

  Nicky had good reason to want another time at bat this game. He had doubled his first time up and hoped to do it again this time. And if he did, he stood a good chance of leading the league in runs batted in.

  Maybe that record wasn’t as glamorous as hitting the most home runs or pitching a no-hitter. But it was a record he knew he would be proud to hold. And he was only six RBIs away from making it.

  “Steee-rike two!” the umpire called.

  “Oh, no!” Nicky moaned. “What’re you waiting for, T.V.?”

  T.V. had struck out the first time up, and it looked as if he was heading down that same route again. So far the score was Mudders 1, Green Dragons 0. A single from T.V. would put José Mendez on second. And if Nicky was the man to bat José home, he’d be one RBI closer to his record.

  The next pitch was a knee-high blazer. “Swing!” Nicky muttered. T.V. did, and belted a sizzling grounder to third.

  “Good shot!” Nicky yelled. The Dragons’ third baseman bobbled the ball, then recovered and whipped it to second. José was safe! Second baseman Dale Emerson relayed to first. T.V. was safe by a step!

  Nicky picked up a bat. But he didn’t go directly to the batter’s box. He went through a ritual he performed each time he prepared to bat.

  First he tapped his right foot with the bat. Then his left. Then he took two swings. Finally he stepped into the batter’s box and touched the outside left corner with the bat, then the right. Only then did he face the pitcher.

  He let the first two pitches go by for balls, then swung at the third — and sent it soaring over the fence for a home run! He was a third of the way to first base before he tossed the bat aside.

  Worked again! he thought with glee. That ol’ ritual hasn’t failed me yet this season!

  The Mudders’ fans cheered loudly. As Nicky trotted over home plate, the team was waiting to congratulate him.

  “Way to go, Nicky!” called T.V. Adams. “Three more runs for the Mudders! And you’re that much closer to you-know-what!”

  Nicky smiled and took a seat on the bench. But secretly he wished T.V. hadn’t said anything. The Mudders had only two more games left this season, so breaking the record would be no easy task. And like many ballplayers, Nicky was superstitious. He was afraid that talking about his chances might jinx him.

  Just to be on the safe side, he rapped his knuckles on the bench.

  Knock on wood, he thought. That should counteract T.V.’s blunder!

  2

  The score still read Mudders 4, Dragons 0, when Alfie Maples popped out to third to end the Mudders’ turn at bat.

  The Dragons started out strong. The first batter slugged a triple into right field. A moment later, he crossed home plate on a single by Eddie Kolski.

  “That’s enough!” Nicky yelled from his second base position. “Let’s buckle down and get them out!”

  The infield chatter must have helped. The next two batters got out on a pop-up and a strikeout. Then T.V. gloved a hot bouncer to third. He pegged it to second for the forced out.

  Mudders 4, Dragons 1.

  “All right! How about some hits, team!” shouted Coach Parker. “Start it off, Bus!”

  Bus didn’t. Neither did Rudy or Sparrow. As a matter of fact, neither the Mudders nor the Dragons scored again until the last inning.

  Nicky was first up at the top of the sixth. Tap, tap, swing, swing, touch, touch, he murmured to himself.

  Bucky Neal threw the first pitch — and Nicky connected for a scorching shot over the shortstop’s head! The ball bounded out to the left center field fence before Greg Barnes scooped it up and whipped it to third. Nicky wisely held up at second.

  “Boy, are you having a hot day!” said Dale Emerson, the Dragons’ second baseman. “Are you going for a record or something?”

  Nicky just smiled and shrugged. Although Dale hadn’t specifically mentioned the RBI record, answering might ruin his luck.

  Nicky watched Alfie Maples walk on four pitches. Then Bus Mercer hit a solid single, loading the bases. Rudy Calhoun struck out, but Sparrow Fisher singled. Nicky took off from third the minute he heard the bat connect with the ball. He crossed home plate safely, adding another run to their score.

  Bus wasn’t as lucky. Sparrow’s single was close to second base. Dale Emerson stepped on the bag seconds before Bus slid in. Bus wiped the dust from his pants and jogged off the field.

  With runners on first and third, Barry McGee, the Mudders’ strongest hitter, stepped to the plate. Nicky cheered him on with the rest of the Mudders’ bench.

  Much to everyone’s surprise, Barry failed to connect with Bucky’s pitches. He struck out.

  The scoreboard read Mudders 5, Dragons 1.

  “Okay, Sparrow,” said Nicky as he passed the Mudders’ pitcher on his way to second base. “The sooner you strike ’em out, the sooner we can get home!”

  “And the sooner I can get some dinner in my empty stomach!” called Turtleneck Jones from first base. He patted his belly.

  Nicky laughed. “I thought I heard something growl at me earlier. Hey,” he added. “Speaking of growling, come by my house later on and I’ll show you something really neat.”

  “What is it?” Turtleneck asked curiously.

  “You’ll see.”

  Both boys turned their attention to the game. Sparrow breezed in three pitches to Andy Jackson, all balls. Then he laced two pitches chest-high and over the middle of the plate. The count was now 3 and 2.

  “Bear down, Sparrow!” Nicky encouraged. “Just one more!”

  Sparrow twirled the ball around and around in his hand. Then he stretched and delivered.

  Crack! A high, long shot toward right field! Alfie Maples took off after it, but he didn’t stand a chance. It was going… going… It was gone! A home run!

  3

  “That’s okay!” called Coach Parker from the dugout. “Don’t let it shake you, Sparrow!”

  That homer put the Dragons within three runs of the Mudders, reminding Nicky that as long as the Dragons were at bat, they could come out on top.

  Nicky pounded his glove and crouched, ready to field anything that came near him. But Cush Boochie, the next man up, didn’t give him a chance. Cush sing
led over short.

  Beans Malone stepped to the plate.

  “C’mon, Sparrow! Get ’em outta there!” Nicky yelled.

  Sparrow did. He fanned Beans on three straight pitches.

  That took the wind out of the Dragons’ sails. Lefty Cash and Bucky Neal met the ball, but only to squeak out little dribblers. Bus easily fielded the first one and made a clean throw to Turtleneck for the second out. Nicky did the same with Bucky’s hit. The game ended with the Peach Street Mudders beating the Dragons 5 to 2.

  The Mudders gathered in the dugout, slapping each other on the back and exchanging high fives.

  “Some fine hitting there today, Nicky,” Coach Parker said. He gave Nicky a meaningful look but said nothing more. Nicky smiled gratefully. He knew that the coach knew about the record — and about Nicky’s superstition against talking about it.

  Nicky began collecting the bats and balls. Then he overheard something that made his heart stop.

  “Do you know who holds the RBI record?” the Mudders’ scorekeeper asked the Dragons’ scorekeeper.

  “Some guy named Sam Jolly. He made it three years ago.”

  “Well, I doubt he’s going to hold it for much longer!”

  Nicky bolted out of earshot and almost ran into Turtleneck Jones. “Let’s get out of here!” he cried. Turtleneck looked surprised but grabbed his glove and followed Nicky off the field.

  That was close, Nicky thought. But they didn’t mention my name. So I think I’ll be okay.

  By the time he and Turtleneck reached their neighborhood, Nicky was feeling better. “Hey, don’t forget to come over after dinner to see what’s in the shed!” he reminded Turtleneck.

  Turtleneck looked mystified but promised he’d be over as soon as he could.

  4

  Mrs. Chong had cooked a tasty dinner. Nicky was so hungry, he wolfed his meal down in no time. As he reached for the bowl to serve himself seconds, he knocked over the saltshaker.

  “Whoops!” He righted the shaker, then grabbed a pinch of salt and tossed it over his shoulder. “For good luck!” he said with a grin. His mother looked at him quickly but said nothing. Nicky knew she didn’t believe in superstitions. But he figured that every little bit of luck helped. Look what his batting ritual did for his hitting, after all!

  After dinner, Nicky put his dishes in the dishwasher, then hurried out to the backyard. He had just pulled the peg out of the shed door’s latch when he heard someone call his name.

  “Hey, Nicky!”

  It was Turtleneck.

  “Shhh!” Nicky warned. He motioned for Turtleneck to look inside the shed.

  There before them lay a big brown dog. Beside her were five little puppies, wriggling and making soft noises.

  “Wow!” Turtleneck breathed. “Can I touch one?”

  “If Babe Ruth lets you,” Nicky said. “But move slowly so she doesn’t get spooked.”

  Turtleneck knelt beside the dogs and carefully reached out his hand. He stroked the closest puppy, then looked up at Nicky with shining eyes.

  “Its fur is so soft!” he whispered.

  Nicky crouched beside him and petted Babe’s head gently. “Yeah, they’re pretty neat.”

  Babe Ruth laid a paw on Nicky’s knee and gave a soft whuff.

  The boys stayed in the shed until Mrs. Chong called them in. Reluctantly, Turtleneck stood up to go.

  “Can I come again, Nicky?”

  “You bet!”

  Nicky slept soundly that night. When he woke up the next morning, he was full of energy.

  “My, you look ready for just about anything today,” his mother said at the breakfast table. “Good thing, too. Those stacks of newspapers in the garage need to be tied for recycling.”

  Nicky started to groan until he saw the look on her face. He quickly covered it up with a cough.

  Nicky’s father leaned over and whispered loudly, “She’s got me mowing the front and back lawns. You’re gettin’ off easy!”

  Nicky burst out laughing. “Hey, save me a four-leaf clover if you find one. I could use a little extra luck!”

  Mrs. Chong shook her head at Nicky, then said, “You and your superstitions. Sometimes I think you really believe in that stuff.”

  Nicky knew better than to try to explain. He just followed his father out to the garage. His mother disappeared into the shed.

  Half an hour later, Nicky dragged the last bundle of newspapers to the curb.

  “Hey, aren’t you Nicky Chong?”

  Nicky looked up. A tall, lanky boy with sandy hair stood in front of him. He was straddling a mountain bike with big knobby tires. He looked familiar, but Nicky wasn’t sure who he was.

  “I’m Stick Jolly,” the boy on the bike said. “I’m the third baseman for the Bulls. We’re playing your team on Monday, aren’t we?”

  Just then, Nicky’s father appeared, carrying one of the puppies.

  “Nicky, have you seen the peg that holds the shed door closed? This little tyke was trying to make a getaway!”

  Nicky shook his head. “Mom must have it. She told me she’s not going to give you another chance to sneak up on her and lock her in!”

  Mr. Chong laughed. “I wish I’d had my camera when I let her out! The look on her face!” The puppy gave a little yip. Mr. Chong held it up to his ear. “What’s that? You’re tired of being outside and you want to find your mother? Okay, off we go!”

  Mr. Chong vanished around the corner of the house. Nicky turned to see Stick Jolly pedaling away.

  Nicky shrugged, then followed his father around to the back of the house. He thought it was strange that Stick hadn’t said goodbye. But the sight that greeted his eyes as he rounded the corner chased that thought away.

  5

  Puppies were everywhere!

  “They just decided today was the day to go outside!” Mrs. Chong gasped as she ran by Nicky, scooping up a puppy with one hand while holding another under her arm. Nicky joined in the chase. Mr. Chong was nowhere to be seen.

  Ten minutes later, all the runaways had been carefully returned to the shed with their mother. Mrs. Chong wedged the peg securely in place.

  “Whew!” she said. She glanced sideways at Nicky. “Thanks for your help. Your father just disappeared when he saw what had happened!”

  Suddenly Nicky heard a soft laugh. He spun around to see his father walking toward them. “Well, I had to get this!” he said gaily. He waved a camera over his head. “That was the funniest thing I’ve seen in a while! It will be the perfect addition to the family album.”

  Mrs. Chong and Nicky both groaned. An embarrassing addition to the album, Nicky thought.

  Later that afternoon, Nicky called Turtleneck to see if he wanted to play some pitch-and-catch. Turtleneck agreed to meet him at the ball field.

  When they arrived, some other kids were riding their bikes around the bases. Nicky recognized Stick Jolly in the crowd.

  “Hey,” he called when Stick rode past him. “Don’t you know you shouldn’t ride here? Your tires could really chew up the turf!”

  Stick rounded first, then turned his front wheel sharply. He rode fast toward the pitcher’s mound. Reaching top speed, he pulled back sharply on his handlebars and jumped over the small hump. He landed with a thud and pedaled straight at home plate — right where Nicky and Turtleneck were standing!

  The two boys leapt out of the way just as Stick skidded to a stop a foot in front of them. A cloud of dust blew up from the ground and surrounded Nicky and Turtleneck. When the dust cleared, Nicky saw with dismay that Stick’s tires had made a deep rut in the dirt.

  “Whadja do that for?” he cried. “Someone might twist an ankle in that hole unless it’s fixed before the next game!”

  Stick shrugged.

  “It’s not my team’s playing field,” he said. “And since your team is playing on my field on Monday, what do you care? Someone will take care of it before you play here again, right?”

  “So then you’re just making work for
somebody,” Nicky fumed. “It’s just wrong to do it — that’s all.”

  Turtleneck nodded in agreement. “Yeah, why don’t you guys ride somewhere else?”

  “C’mon, Stick, let’s get going,” called a boy. He looked a lot like Stick but was older. In fact, all of the other bike riders looked older. “Or would you rather stay with these Goody Two-shoes than ride with us?”

  Stick snorted. “No way, Sam! I’m coming!” He rode off the field and down the street with the others.

  “That guy really burns me up,” Turtleneck said angrily.

  “Me, too,” Nicky replied, staring at the rut in the dirt at his feet. “Hey, T., let’s go back to my house and get something to fix this, okay?”

  “Good idea,” Turtleneck said. “I’ll bet we find some other places where the field is dug up, too.”

  Twenty minutes later, they were back with a long-handled garden rake. They took turns smoothing over the holes left behind by the bike tires. Soon the diamond looked as good as new.

  The boys tossed the baseball back and forth for a while, then went back to Nicky’s house to play with the puppies.

  Turtleneck lay back and put a puppy on his chest. The dog wriggled for a moment, then fell asleep. “Say, Nicky, are you nervous about the game on Monday?”

  Nicky’s heart fluttered. “I’ll just play like I usually do, I guess,” he mumbled.

  “Are you talking about Nicky’s near-record-breaking RBI stat?” a voice boomed. The puppy on Turtleneck’s stomach woke with a start. Both boys jumped.

  Mr. Chong stood in the doorway. What he said next made Nicky’s heart sink to his stomach.

  “Only four to go now, isn’t that right? That’s some impressive hitting streak, son!”

  6

  Nicky couldn’t believe it. His own father had jinxed him!